Today, I have special guest Teresa Tierney. Teresa is a freelance writer who blogs about the challenges of forgiveness. You think it’s tough following The Ten C’s—just try forgiveness. It’s not a job. It truly is an adventure! Connect with Teresa on her website Road Blocks to Forgiveness or on her Facebook Page.
Moving to the Land of Forgiveness is not easy. I must make the choice to arrive there every day, and there are days I must make that choice several times a day. It is a lot of work, but one of the benefits of living there is how much simpler life becomes without the following:
1. No more practice time on the art of the “cold shoulder” or the “silent treatment”. Oh! Those are exhausting aren’t they?
2. No more sounding like a 12 year old for bringing up stuff that happened 400 years ago. You aren’t over that yet? Really?
3. No more grudge maintenance. My how those lists can grow. Managing their scroll-like length, meant I frequently missed the opportunity to oh-so-subtly remind someone of their latest error.
4. No more being surprised by the anger that flares up out of control because someone hit a hot button I forgot to remind them of during the last 73 months.
5. No more looking over my shoulder to see who is listening while I blow my gasket. I am a Christian after all. I wouldn’t want anyone to be confused by my un-Christ-like behavior.
6. No more perfecting the art of yelling in a forced whisper. It is really difficult to get your point across when you don’t want anyone else to overhear, just in case you take the name of the Lord in vain.
7. No more need to search the memory bank to find the zinger that trumps today’s error. You think I was bad–well, what about when you… (whatever error you can recall with a 5 second lead time)! There’s nothing like derailing an attack on my shortcomings by pointing the finger at my accuser. No wonder satan got into the accusation business!
When forgiveness becomes part of our daily lives, we can walk in freedom from these hurtful games. I am as far from perfect as any human on the planet and on occasion, I have been known to fall back into old patterns. Sometimes these are the red flags that I have ventured into the No Man’s Land of Unforgiveness.
As you read this, I hope you find yourself nodding in agreement because you too have been rescued from that desolate place. If today is one of those days you hopped on the wrong bus and have ended up in that all too familiar territory, remember God has a free bus ride waiting for you. Just fold your hands together, thumbs in the air, and ask him to show you the way.
Do you have any red flags that remind you when you’re heading for the Land of Unforgiveness?
I would love to hear about it in the comments below.
Angela, I'm excited to be a part of your blog today.
I hope your readers enjoy my tongue-in-cheek list on simplifying your life through forgiveness.
I would love to hear feedback in the comments below.
Thanks for hosting me!
Teresa
So glad you were able to stop by, Teresa!